What are Modi’s motives behind blaming Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack?
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cut short his official visit to Saudi Arabia and returned home after a deadly attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam district that left 26 people dead. He immediately attended an election rally in Bihar state, promising in an English-language speech that he would “pursue and punish terrorists and their supporters to the ends of the earth” — a message that indirectly targeted Pakistan [Times of India] (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pahalgam-terror-attack-pm-modis-rare-english-address-in-bihar-end-of-the-earth-warning-message-to-the-world/articleshow/120579115.cms)
International analysts believe that Modi’s quick move to blame Pakistan goes beyond a mere response to a terrorist attack and pursues domestic political goals. Analysts believe that Modi is trying to use the emotional atmosphere created by the terrorist attack to stir up nationalist sentiments and strengthen his voter base ahead of the crucial Bihar state elections [The Wire] (https://m.thewire.in/article/politics/modi-vows-punishment-beyond-imagination-after-pahalgam-attack-ties-national-security-with-bihar-polls)
Some media outlets have also noted that the Pahalgam attack has challenged Modi’s narrative of the return of security and calm to Kashmir after the region’s autonomy was revoked in 2019. In this light, the quick blaming of Pakistan could be an attempt to divert public attention from the government’s domestic failures in managing internal security [Al Jazeera] (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/28/burst-balloon-how-pahalgam-attack-shattered-modis-kashmir-narrative)
On the other hand, India’s opposition parties, including the Congress and the RJD, have been sharply critical of Modi, accusing him of pursuing his electoral interests in Bihar instead of attending a crisis meeting of the parties to review the Pahalgam attack [Times of India] (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/undeclared-emergency-congress-rjd-targets-pm-modi-over-bihar-visit-in-wake-of-pahalgam-terror-attack-questions-timing/articleshow/120572252.cms)
Overall, the analysis suggests that Modi, by exploiting the attack Pahalgam and the accusations against Pakistan seek to create a wave of patriotic feelings and change the domestic electoral equations in favor of their party; an approach that can simultaneously lead to increased regional tensions.